Calculating machine



Dec. 4, 1945.

- H. T. AVERY ET AL CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1943 INVENTORS flmm TAVEPY 72/50004 hf [.A55A6NE A TTORNE Y5 Patented Dec. 4, 1945 I i v j UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE I 2,390,041 V I CALCULATING iimcnmn Harold T. Avery and Theodore H. Lassagne, Oakland, Calif., asslgnors to Marchant Calculating Machine Company, a corporation of California Application December 1, 1943, Serial N0. 512,452 .2 Claims. (01. 235-145) This invention relates to calculating machines and has particular reference to an improved keyboard mechanism for calculating machines of but may be applied to any calculating or like machine wherein it is desired at certain times to prevent depression or release of any or all value keys.

In performing a, series of machine calculations it often happens that certan digits of a factor set up on the keyboard are later repeatedly used in setting up other factors for succeeding calculations and the successive clearance and reinstatingof such digits in the keyboard obviously entail waste time and effort. Also it is often desirable to retain one factor in one portion of the keyboard as a constant to be used in-combination with changing factors set up on another portion of the keyboard.

In the copending application of Avery et 9.1. Serial Number 435,806, filed March 23, 1942, a keyboard lock mechanism is disclosed and claimed which is capable of selectively locking the entire keyboard or only a part of the keyboard against clearance or entry of a value therein, thus making it possible to look a constant in the keyboard for a succession of machine calculations while allowing other values to be set in the remainder of the keyboard and to be cleared after each problem. The mechanism is also capable of automatically preventing inadvertent clearance or change of a keyboard set-up during the performance of an automatic division operation whether or not the manually settable keyboard lock control means is effective. Thismechanism is entirely practical in operation, however, it has the disadvantage that the locking of a value or constant in the keyboard has the effect of blocking the operation of a spring pressed keyboard clearing device and thus imposes a load on the keyboard clearing mechanism when the same is operated either manually or automatically to clear whichever keys are not locked.

The principal object of the present invention is to reduce the loading of a master keyboard clear key in a mechanism of the type disclosed in the above mentioned application.

A further object is.to obviate the need for a blocking device in'a mechanism for preventing release of predetermined keys of the keyboard during release of the keyboard by a master keyboard releasing device.

A further object is to prevent loading of a master keyboard release device while at the same time preventing depression or release of keys in any key row of the keyboard.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in coniunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of

ing, in part, the .keyboard clearance controlling mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating the keyboard clearance controlling mechanism in an alternative position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of one of the key banks and is taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3; with parts broken away, and is taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side view illustrating the selectively settable control means for the keyboard clearance control mechanism, and the means for superseding the manual control of the mechanism during an automatic division performance;

Figure 6 is a side view of the keyboard clear key mechanism.

In a machine designed for calculating in accordance with the decimal system, such as the one to which the mechanism of the present in vention is applied, the. keys are preferably arranged in a series of identical and juxtaposed banks of at least nine keys each, the number of banks depending upont the magnitude of the factors with which the machine is designed to deal.

The construction of each of the key banks or sections is substantially the same as disclosed in the Avery Patent Number 2,255,909, issued on September 16, 1941, and comprises the usual number of value keys I00, each of which is slidably mounted in a channel shaped'key frame i0! fixed in the frame of the machine. Each key is normally maintained in a raised position by a compression spring I02, and the key stem I03 thereof is provided with a shoulder I ll (Figure 3) which is adapted to engage a stop I01 mounted on the respective channel frame IM to limit upward movement of the key, while a projection I04 on the key stem is adapted to engage the lower leg of the channel frame IOI to limit depression of the key.

All of the key stems are of the same length and each has a cam extrusion I I6 which, upon depression of the key, pushes to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, a slotted key locking slide II'I slidably supported on the under side of the channel frame I M by studs I06 extending through elongated slots I01 formed on the lower leg of the key frame. Upon full downward depression of any value key, with the exception of the leftmost or zero key I00, the locking slide III, which is urged leftward by a compressed spring I I8 (Figures 1 and 3) extending between retaining fingers on the frame and the slide, snaps back into its initial location and by engaging over the upper end of the extrusion II6 latches the depressed key.

Disposed under each bank of value keys 1 to 9, inclusive, is a differentially settable bar I30 which is pivotally suspended from the key frame IN by means of two parallel links I3I and I32. This bar I30 has nine identical V-notches I 33 formed on the upper edge thereof, each of which merges at its bottom into a downwardly extending slot I34 adapted'to receive the lower end of a corresponding key stem I03. The vertical center lines of the key stems I03 are spaced an equal distance apart. This distance, however, is slightly greater than the spacing between the successive equi-spaced slots I34 so that each succeeding slot I34 will be spaced one increment further away from its cooperating key stem. This spacing is so proportioned that depression of a value key will cam the bar I30 to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, a number of increments equal to the value represented by the depressed key,

Movement of each bar I 30 is utilized to set' up a mechanical representation of the selected value whereby the calculating mechanism may be accordingly controlled. For this purpose a swinging segment member I48 is pivotally mounted on a transversely extending shaft I 49 supporting like members associated with other key banks. This member I48 is provided at opposite ends thereof with arcuate racks I50 and I5I which serve to transmit the movement of the differential bar I30 to different parts of the calculating mechanism and thus control the same accordingly. However, when no value key of a key section is depressed, the respective bar I30 is held in its extreme leftward or ineffective position, as illustrated in Figure 1, by a tension spring I52 ex- 2,390,041 ing the depression of the zero key and latching thereof cannot be effected.-

Master manual and automatic keyboard clearing means are provided which are capable of simultaneously releasing every depressed key on the entire keyboard, but which may be rendered 1 ineffective with respect to any or all of the rows a slot I42 embracing a second frame pin I43. A I

roller I24 is mounted on the key stem and overlies a curved finger I44 forming part of a keyboard clear bail I25, pivoted at its ends on frame pins I23.

As described'in detail in the above mentioned Avery Patent Number 2,216,659, means are also tending between an ear I 53 on the segment memf ber I48 and a portion of the machine frame (not shown). When a bar I30 is'allowed to remain in this position during a machine operation no of the section, but latching down of the same is prevented by the provision, on locking slide III, of a lip II9, the lower edge of which lies below the lowest position assumed by the top of the extrusion II6. Hence, while the slide II! is moved to the right upon depressio'n of this key to release any other latched down key, the lip H8 prevents the slide from returning leftward durprovided for automatically clearing the keyboard during addition or subtraction operations. To this end a bar 113 (Figure 6), identical with the correspondingly numbered bar of said patent, is provided with a bifurcated end embracing a pin 'I6I on the finger I44. During an addition or subtraction operation, the bar I19 is automatically reciprocated to rock the finger I44 and thereby rock the key release bail I25 in the same manner as does the depression of key I22.

According to the present invention,means are provided for locking any or all depressed keys to prevent their release, or for preventing depression of. any or all keys. This locking means offers considerable flexibility in operation, being adapted to be set to lock a constant of any desired number of digits in any part of the keyboard while allowing the remainder of the keyboard to remain free to receive other digits and to be cleared, or to lock the entire keyboard against entry or clearance of a value therein, or to automatically lock the keyboard against advertent or inadvertent entry or clearance of a value during division regardless of the manual setting of the locking mechanism without disturbing such manualsetting.

In accordance with the present invention the keyboard clear bail I25 carries a plurality of pivotally mounted interponent devices one of said devices being situated adjacent the forward end of each of the locking slides Il'l upon a pivot I96 carried by an ear extending from bail I25..

row, being pivotally supported at one end on a movement of the leveragainst the action of the 7 spring I51, the reasons for which will appear hereinafter, while a light tension spring I60 is tensioned between the lever I56 and the lower leg of the key frame IOI. Spring I60 has enough strength to rock the lever I56 downwardly to the lowermost dot and dash line position I56b (Figure 1), against the frictional resistance created by Each lever I56 is normally-pressed against the spring I51, if otherwise permitted to do so. However, if the lever I58 is of sufllcient weight to rock downwardly of its own accord, the spring I88 may be omitted.

The foremost edge of each lever I58 has a series of surfaces disposed at different radial distances from the pivotal mounting of the lever and which, dependingupon the rocked position of the lever I58, serve to fulcrum the interponent devices I85 of the keyboard clearing mechanism and also, preferably, to prevent movement of the associated locking slide II1 under certain conditions to be described. Two of these surfaces designated I82 and I83 are concentric with the stud I54 and are disposed atthe same radial distance from the center thereof. These surfaces are adapted, when the lever I58 is in either of two alternate fulcruming positions illustrated in full and in dot-dash lines, respectively, in Figure 1, to act as a fulcruming surface for an ear I94 of the opposite one of the series of interponents 695. This arrangement is such that when the ear i84 engages either of the surfaces I82, I98, the lower end of the interponent I85 will engage a downwardly bent leg I81 formed on the associated locking slide H1. Thus with the lever I58 in either of its fulcruming positions, clockwise rocking of the clear bail I25, as by depression of the master clearance key I22, will cause the interponent to fulcrum on whichever surface I82 and I93 it is opposite, and the lower end of the interponent will then engage and move the lookin slide II 1 rearward to release any depressed key in the associated key row.

However, when the lever I58 is in either of two intermediate positions illustrated in Figure 2, a notch 288 formed in the forward edge of the lever intermediate the sections I92 and I83 will be located opposite the ear I94. Therefore, when the gate I25 is rocked clockwise the interponent will merely fulcrum on the lug I81 of the locking slide without moving the same and the upper ear 584 will rock into the notch 288.

In order to iimit clockwise movement of the bail I25 beyond that necessary to cause release of the locking slide II1 when the lever I58 is in either of its fulcruming positions illustrated in Figure 1, and also to prevent fulcruming of the interponent I95 on the bottom of the notch 288 in such a manner as to effectively move the slide H1 when the bail I25 is rocked with the lever 958 in either of the intermediate positions illustrated in Figure 2, an adjustable stop is provided comprising a stop screw I88 threaded through the upper part of the bail I25 and adapted to abut the end of a notch formed in a cross bar I88. Par I98 also forms part of the frame of the machine and supports the forward ends of the various key frames I8I. s

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer depending leg of the lever I58 is formed to extend through an opening IGI in the key locking slide H1 and exert pressure on that particular slide by virtue of the alignment of the notch 288 in the member I58 with the ear I of the interponent I85.

Means operable in conjunction with the differ,- entially settable bars I88 are provided to control the positioning of the individual levers I58 and thereby control the selection of the several modes ,of operation mentioned hereinbefore. This means comprises a rockable bail I85 common to all of the members I58 (Figures 1, 2, and 5) and adapted to be set in any of three different positions to limit counterclockwise movement of all of the levers I58 accordingly. The bail extends across the entire keyboard and passes through openings I Me in the walls of the various key frames I8I. Ears I88 are formed on the opposite ends of the bail I85 and are pivoted on coaxial frame plus I 81. One of the ears I88 (Figure 5) is suitably secured to an arm I88 connected by a link I89 to a lever "I which is pivoted at I12 to a settable control lever I18.

' The lever I18 is pivoted on a frame stud I14 and has a portion thereof extending through a slot in the keyboard cover plate so that it may be adjusted by the machine operator into any one of three positions indicated at A, B, and C. Detent means are provided to hold the lever I18 in any of its three positions, comprising a.

pawl I15 pivoted on a frame pin I18 and urged counter-clockwise by a spring I" tensloned between the pawl and a frame pin (not shown). The pawl has three spaced notches formed therein each of which i adapted to engage a pawling projection I15 formed on the lever I13 when the latter is in one of the positions described.

The lever I1I is provided with a pivot pin I18 intermediate its ends, which pin extends into an opening I88 in a combined camming and pivot lever I8 I, which is pivotally supported on a frame pin I82. The lever I8I is connected to a division initiating key 918 through a train of elements comprising a link I88, arm I84 fastened to a rockable shaft I258 to which is also fastened a lever I828, and a link 985 connecting the lever I828 to a key supporting lever 913 which is pivoted on a frame pin 814. The lever 813 and a link 912 form a parallel link arrangement for guiding the key 818 in a substantially vertical direction during depression of the key or release thereof from depressed position.

The division key 818 is normally held in its illustrated raised. position by spring means not shown. However, upon depression thereof to a position wherein an ear 988 on the supporting lever 818 is engaged by latching shoulder 88I of a spring pressed latch 882, a division operation will be initiated as described in detail in said Avery Patent Number 2,216,659. The division operation will automatically continue until it is terminated either automatically or by depression of a special stop key, at either of which times the latch 882 will be rocked down to allow the key has a lobe I82 (Figure 2) formed therein which,

when the lever is in'either of its intermediate positions illustrated in Figure 2, lies directly be 818 to again be spring raised to its upper position. Assume for the present that the key 918 is allowed to remain in the raised position in which it is illustrated so that the lever IN is positioned to embrace the pivot pin I18 in a narrow upper guide slot I88, forming part of the opening I88 thereof, forming a fulcrum for the lever I1I.

With. the lever I8I positioned, as illustrated. movement of the lever I18 to its inefl'ective" position A will cause the lever "I to rock about the axis of pin I18 and cause the link I89 and arm I88 to move bail I to its highest rocked position shown in Figures 1 and 5, and the bail will e age and rock all of the levers III to the ,position shown in I surface I62 is situated above the level of the as- Figure 1 wherein its blocking sociated locking slide Ill and, therefore, cannot prevent release or depression of any of the keys in the keyboard, while the surface I93 thereof is positioned to fulcrum the interponent I95 during operation of the keyboardclearing bail I26 causing the lower end of. each interponent to move its as- 'sociated slide H1. The keyboard clearing mechanism will therefore function in the usual manner.

Movement of the lever I13 to its intermediate or full keyboard lock position B will cause the I lever "I to rock on its pin I16'unti1 its pivotal connection I assumes a position B whereupon the bail I65 will be positioned at an intermediate height indicated by the dot and dash lines I66 (Figure 2). When the bail I65 is in this position,

the springs I60 in all of the key banks 01 the keyboard in which no value key has been depressed will be allowed to rock their respective levers I56 downward to the position illustrated by the dot and dash lines I56a, wherein the blocking lobes I62 on the levers I56 will be positioned in blocking witfithe lowermost offset end I9I of the lever I66 and will hold the lever in its upper intermediate position shown in full lines in Figure 2. Thus, the lobe I62 on that lever will again be located in blocking relationship with the associated slide II1.

It should be noted that the ear P90 is so arranged on each of the bars I that when the bar is held in its fzero position, illustrated in Figure 1, by the spring I52, the ear I90 will not interfere with movement of the lever I56, and it is only when the number "1" or higher value key is depiessed that the ear I90 is moved into blocking relation with the corresponding lever I56, such a situation being illustrated in Figure 2 wherein the 2 value key is depicted as latched in depressed ner; the interponents I95 fulcruming on the surrelation with the forward edgespf the openings I6I of the key locking slides, thus preventing depression of any raised key or release oi any deressed key. In each of those orders in which a key has already been depressed and latched in depressed position before movement of. lever I13 to position B, the key stem of the depressed key will have cammed the differentially settable bar I30 to the right, as viewed "in Figuresl and 2.

' Thus, an ear I90 formed on the bar I30 will be moved into blocking relationwith the lowermost ofi'set end I91 of the lever I56 and willhold'the lever I56 at its upper intermediate position illustrated in full lines in Figure 2 wherein the lobe I62 thereof will also be located in blocking relation with the forward edge of the opening I6I in position.

It will be'seen from the above that a value or constant may be locked indefinitely in the keyboard while permitting other values to be set in the keyboard andjthen cleared in the usual manfaces J92 of all fully lowered levers I66. This may beraccomplished by first setting the lever I 13 in-its inefiective position A, if it is not already there, and then setting up the value or constant which it is desired to retain indefinitely. Thereafter, the lever I13 is moved to its keyboardconstant-lock position C, and, consequently, the levers I56 in those orders in which no value key has been depressed will drop to their lowermost inefiective positions while the levers I56in those orders in which a key is depressed and latched will be blocked by the ears I90 of the resmctive differential bars I30, thereby holding such levers in blocking relation with the corresponding key the associated slide II1. Therefore, any value a set up on the keyboard and locked therein by movement of the lever I13 to its intermediate position B will be retained therein and cannot be a changed or cleared until the lever I13 is again rocked out of this position. It willxbe noted that when levers I56 are in either of the two positions illustrated in Figure 2, the ears I94 of interponents I95 will enter the notches 200 preventing the transmissionof any force from bail I25 to any slide I I1 associated with a lever so set.

Movement of the lever I13 into its 'rearmost keyboard-constant lock position C will cause v the lever I1I to rock on its pin I16 until the piv-,

otal connection I10 assumes a position 0', at

which time the bail I65 will be moved to its lower-- most possible position indicated by the full lines in Figure 2 and the dot and dash lines in Figure 1. When in such position, the springs I60 in all key sections of the keyboard in which no value key has been depressed will be allowed to rock their respective levers I56 downward to their lowermost possible'positions illustrated by the dot and dash lines 156!) in Figure 1, carrying their blocking lobes I62 below the level of the associated locking slides II1 wherein they will be inefiective to prevent releasing movement of those slides. However, in each of those ordersin which a key has already been depressed andlatched in depressed position before movement of lever I13 to position C, the key stem I03 of that key will have cammed the associated differentiallylsettable bar I30 tothe right and the ear I90 on the bar 1.30 will have moved into blocking relation locking slides I I1. However, in the event that all Of the keys are in raisedposition prior to such setting and locking of a value in the keyboard or in the event that it is desired to set and look a value in' the keyboard in addition to a value or constant already locked in the keyboard, the lever I13 may be left in position C during the depression of the keys to be locked. The lever I13 would then be moved to its position A and thence 'back to position C, resulting in all of the depressed cam the levers sideways as they pass upward past the ears I90. At this time, the springs I51 on the pivot studs I54- will merely yield until the offsets I!" pass above the'ears I90 at which time the springs I51 will snap the levers I56 into their original illustrated vertical planes, again positioning the ofiset ends I9I directly over the paths of movement of the ears I90. When it becomes desirable to release any key or keys locked in depressed position, the lever-I13 is merely moved back to its inefiectlve position A and any of the several clearing means may be operated to release the keys. A I

Depression of the division key 910 to initiate a division operation will cause the bail I65 to aswine its intermediate lull keyboard. lock position I65 (Figure 2) regardless of the setting of the lever I13 and without changing such setting,

and will therefore lock the entire keyboard. when the division key is allowed to rise at the completion of the division operation, the keyboard will again be restored to the particular locked or unlocked condition previously determined by the setting of the lever I13. To this end, the opposite edges of the opening I60 in the lever I6I converge downwardly into a narrow slot I64 capable of embracing the pivot pin IIII extending from the lower end of the lever Ill. The opening I" in lever I8I is so formed that, upon depression of the division key 910 to its lowermost latched position and consequent upward rocking movement of the lever I III to the position illustrated in part'by dot and dash lines I6I' (Figure the upper converging sides of the opening I60 will free the pivot pin I16 on lever I'll, while the lower converging sides of the op n ng will cam the lower pivot pin I10 into the narrow guide slot I94. This slot is arranged so as to-locate the pin IIII substantially in the position B regardless of the setting of the lever Ill, and therefore the bail I65 will be moved to its intermediate position I65 (Figure 2) to hold all of the levers I56, with the exception of any suchlevers which have been blocked in the full line position indicated in Figure 2 in the manner described hereinbefore, in their blocking positions I56a. It should be noted that since this latter position I56a is below the full line position illustrated in Figure 2, the bottom offset edge I6I of such levers will be located below the upper edge of the blocking ears I90 0! the differentially settable bars I30.

Upon termination of the division operation, the division key will be spring pressed upwardly to its original position and the lever I6I will reassume the lower position in which it is shown in full lines. during which time the lower converging edges of the opening I6II will free the pin III! while the upper converging edges of the opening will cam the pin I16 into the slot I66, causing the lever Ill and ball I65 to assume their originally set positions in accordance with the setting of the lever I'll.

ments (including bail I65) connected thereto. 60-

If, however, the lever I'll was originally set at "C," automatic release oi the division key 910 to its raised position at the end of division with consequent rocking of the ball I65 from the dot and dash line position indicated at I65 of Figure 2 to its full line position therein, will allow those levers I56 which are not blocked by the corresponding ears ISO to resume their lowermost unblocking positions I56b (Figure 2) which they occupied before the depression of the division key 910. Therefore, movement of the key 610 to its raised position will effect restoration of the keyboard to the same locked or unlocked condition that it occupied prior to the division operation.

We claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a keyboard comprising a row of depressible keys and means for holding a depressed one of said keys in depressed position; releasing means for moving said holding means to release said depressed key comprising the combination of a clearing member with means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said clearing member and a fulcruming and blocking member selectively adjustable either to concurrently fulcrum said lever and permit unobstructed movement of said holdin means thereby or to concurrently permit unobstructed movement of said clearing member and block movement of said holding means.

2. In a calculating machine having a keyboard comprising a row of depressible keys and means for holding a depressed one of said keys in depressed position; releasing means for moving said holding means to release said depressed key comprising the combination of a clearing member with means com-prising'a lever pivotally mounted on said clearing member and a iulcruming and blocking member selectively adjustable either to concurrently fulcrum said lever and permit unobstructed movement of said holding means I thereby or to concurrently permit unobstructed movement or said clearing member and block movement of said holding means, a selectively settable device, and means controlled jointly by said settable device and by said keys upon depression thereof for selectively adjusting said fulcruming and blocking member.

HAROLD T. AVERY. THEODORE H. LASSAGNE. 

